Shah Shuja's Role in Promotion of Shi'ism

 

Dr.Mazhar Naqvi

The role of Mughal Prince and the second son of Shahjahan and Mumtaz Mahal in propogation of Shi’ism in Bengal has not been portrayed the way it deserves. It was he who introduced Shi’ism in Bengal during his governorship.Thanks to his inclination towards Shi’ism,Bangal had shia Nawabs from 1707 till 1880.he is believed to be instrumental behind the construction of the second Imambargahs of the sub continent Hussaini Dalan in Decca.,the capital of the province.

He was born on 23 June 1616, in Ajmer.He was designated as governor of Bengal and Bihar by Shah Jahan from 1641 folllowed by Orissa from 25 July 1648.he developed interest in Shi’ism under the influence of his tutor who was son of Shaheed-E-Salis Qazi Nurullah Shustri who was executed on the orders of his grandfather Jahangir.He patronized Iranian merchants in his province and they promoted Azadari with freedom in Murshidabad,Hooghly and Decca.

The  groundwork done by Shah Shuja  was capitalized by Shia Nawabs kater.They built huge imambargahs.The first Nawab Murshid Quli Khan would have not been adopted by as son by Shia merchant Haji Shafi Isfahani ,had Shuja not patronized Persian merchants.The fifth Nawab Ali Vardi Khan later promoted Shi’ism . he was a practicing Shia. He used to pray whole night on a piece of earth from the grave of Hazrat Imam Hussain at Karbala whenever confronted with ware or any other political trouble. He invited Shia scholars to Bengal to teach in 'maktabs', mosques and Imambargahs.like a Hussaini,he never discriminated between Hindus or Muslims .He also groomed his Nawab Siraj ud Daula as a Shia. Ironically,Siraj lacked farsightedness and   lost battle of Plassy in 1757,paving way for the British to install puppet Shia  Nawabs on the throne .   In the process, the efforts initiated by Shah Shuja were frustrated.

(Reference available on request)  

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